Nnamdi Kanu Dismisses Legal Team, Declares Readiness to Defend Himself in Court

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday announced the dismissal of his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) during proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Speaking before Justice James Omotosho, Kanu stated that he had decided to personally conduct his defence. 

His declaration prompted the immediate withdrawal of all senior lawyers in the defence team, including Chief Agabi, who once served as Attorney-General of the Federation.

Following the change, Kanu, addressing the court from the dock, questioned the court’s jurisdiction to continue his trial, marking another twist in his ongoing legal battle with the Federal Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kanu had, in a motion he personally signed and filed on Oct. 21, listed former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and others as his witness in his ongoing alleged terrorism trial.

The motion is entitled:: “Notice of Number and Names of Witnesses to be Called by the Defendant and Request for Witness Summons/Subpoena and the Variation of the Time Within Which to Defend the Counts/Charges against the Defendant.”

It listed many dignitaries as witnesses.

Among those Kanu listed as “compellable witnesses” are the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike; a former Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and a former Chief of Army Staff,retired Gen Tukur Buratai .

Others are , Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; the immediate-past Governor of Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu; the immediate-past Director-General (DG), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar.

Others are former DG of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi, and several witnesses whose identities he didn’t reveal.

Kanu, in the motion, promised to “provide the sworn statements of all voluntary witnesses to this honourable court, and to notify the prosecution within a reasonable time.”

NAN equally reported that the IPOB leader held his private consultation with his legal team at the FHC in Abuja on Wednesday.

Kanu, who was brought to court by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), met with members of his legal team in Justice James Omotosho’s court as earlier ordered.

NAN